Particulate Levels Underneath Landscape Fire Smoke Plumes in the Sydney Region of Australia

Smoke pollution from landscape fires is a major health problem, but it difficult to predict the impact of any particular fire. For example, smoke plumes can be mapped using remote sensing, we do not know how distributed in air-column. Prescribed burning involves deliberate introduction human communities amount, composition, and distribution may different wildfires. We examined whether produced high levels particulate (PM2.5) at permanent air quality monitors factors that influenced those levels. 1237 plumes, all observed 17 years MODIS imagery over New South Wales, Australia, this was only ~20% known fires. burn tended occur more populated areas than Only 18% wildfire 4% prescribed passed monitor (n = 115). A minority caused detectable increase PM2.5: an exceedance for 33% observations daytime 11% night, exceedances 48% 22% day night-time, respectively. Thus, most remained aloft (did reach surface). Statistical modelling revealed wind speed, temperature, mixing height plume exceedance, there difference between wild In particular, speeds below 1 kmhr−1, almost certain burns. This information will useful planning burning, preparing warnings, improving our ability impacts.